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Making the Leap into a Career You Can Really Love

If you’re stuck in a job you can’t feel excited about, you know what a drag it can be. You may even be at the point where you dread the end of the weekend or get depressed just thinking about being in the workplace. Or maybe you simply feel you could be doing more with your life, your work, or both. One way to achieve a greater sense of fulfillment, overall, is to try to meld doing what you love with working for a living. And if your present job isn’t offering you that, it may be time for a career switch.

Set your sights on something that really excites you.

When you consider a career change, don’t get sucked into the “grass is always greener” mentality, where you think anything would be better than where you are now. You need to be realistic about the kind of work you could genuinely find exciting, not just work that is different from your present job. You should also be wary about romanticizing professions that look glamorous from the outside but which you don’t really know much about. Instead, ask yourself what you are truly passionate about, what topics you find yourself talking about all the time, or always wanting to learn more about. Also, ask yourself if this is something you can literally envision yourself doing, day to day – and enjoying. You may find it beneficial to take some time job shadowing so you have a clear picture of what a day in the life entails, in a career you are eyeing.

Planning: Make a step-by-step list of how to gain entry to your new career.

Getting into different industries involves different processes. Sometimes, for instance, special licenses or certifications may be needed. Sometimes you may even need to go back to school. Or you may already be equipped with the knowledge and skills you need but will have to take time to build up a customer base as a freelancer or business owner. Some training or investment may require additional financing. All this adds up to a process, so do some reading and find out what steps you’ll need to take to get from A to Z. Part of this process will entail updating your resume both to reflect your relevant accomplishments, and to capture the interest of hiring managers in your selected industry. Rez-Builder can help you create a resume that develops your true value and effectively tells your career story.

Strategy: Be willing to acquire more education.

Changing careers may sometimes mean getting the education and training you need to start fresh. For some, this may be an appealing idea, but others may be hesitant about the idea of going back to school again, as an adult, with all an adult’s personal obligations and responsibilities. One way to get around this would be to pursue an online degree. In some cases, it may make sense to look at getting a master’s degree instead of a new bachelor’s degree. For instance, if you’re already fairly educated in tech, you could pursue an M.S. in cybersecurity, data analytics, software engineering, or systems administration.

Fast-Track your Plan: Work with a Career Coach.

Partnering with a career coach will help you avoid costly and potentially disastrous mistakes. A coach can work with you to align your passion with your career. Having an objective voice to guide you and develop your goals with into actionable bites can be a real game-changer, no matter where you are in your career path. A career coach can provide you with a valuable, impartial perspective on your strengths and weaknesses, and help you develop the former while overcoming the latter. Career coaches can also answer your questions and help you learn more about the ins and outs of your new industry. And finally, if you have difficult decisions to make about career choices or money, having a career coach to hash things out with can help you achieve greater clarity.

Transitioning from one line of work to another, or starting something new and being successful, will take time. There may be moments of frustration or impatience along the way balanced by the excitement of actually working toward a life changing goal. It is hard work but keep moving towards your goal of piloting a career that is truly fulfilling.

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